PP’s Lutepo charged with theft and money laundering: Malawi cashgate

Ruling People’s Party (PP) deputy director of recruitment and sensitisation, Osward Luetpo has been charged with theft and money laundering.

Lutepo, who handed himself to the police on Wednesday after travelling from Dubai, was formally charged at Zomba Magistrate Court on Thursday.

His lawyer Jai Banda said the state asked that the case be transferred to the High Court where he will apply for bail on Friday.

“He is being charged under the money laundering act of contravening section 35 of the act and there is also another charge of theft,” Banda, a money laundering law expert said.

Lutepo: Charged

Banda said Lutepo remains innocent until proved otherwise by the court, saying people should wait for the due process of the law and avoid media or social media trial on him.

Lutepo’s firm, International Procurement Services is suspected to have been a conduit in defrauding the government.

The Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) also arrested two officers at the Office of the President and Cabinet for allegedly issuing a payment of over a billion to Lutepo’s company, which did not have any contract with the government, according to ACB.